Electric signal for internal-combustion engines



Dec. 1g, ww www@ A. C.y WOOD ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed sept. 9; l1922 Patented Dec. 18, 1923.l

'rl-:D STATES ANDREW c. woon, or cnrcaeo, rumors, Assrcnon ro STEWART-waaraan lscannennran conroiwrron, or cnrcaeo, rumors-e. coaro'rron or vraernra.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FO INTERNAL-COMB'USTION ENGINES.

appncanqn mea september a, ma serial no. camel.

tric Signals for Internal-Combustion En gines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates tol an improved form of electrically operated signal for use with an internal combustion engine to advise the operator of temperature conditions in the engine. In consists of the features and elements of construction and their combination as hereinafter described and shown in the drawing and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawingsz- 1 Figure 1 is a rear elevation partly in section showing an instrument embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan section taken as indicated at line, 22, on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a 4vertical section taken as indicated at li'ne, 3-3, on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a wirin diagram showing the connection of the in icating device with a thermostat on the en ine.

Figure 5 is a modifie wiring diagram.

Figure 6 is a detail section similar to Figure 2 showing` a slight modification in the mounting of one of the lamp sockets.

The instrument to which this invention relates is the indicating device which is designed to co-operate with a thermostatic device'carried bythe engine or associated with it in position to. be jaiected by changes of temperature. Such thermostatic device is indicated in the wiring diagrams, Figures 4 and 5 at 1, and is shown as having electric connections consisting of a battery wire, 2, and a pair of separated contact points, 3 and 4, wired respectivelyto a lamp, 5, and a lamp, 6. 'llhese lamps are carried in the instrument shown in Flglure 1 which is designed to be mounted on the hood, radiator cap or front fender of an automobile so that its rear face may be constantly in view from the drivers seat. The instrument casing consists of a frame, 7, with a front ange, 8, and rear Bange, 9, in which there are respectively carried cover glasses, 10 and 11. In addition to the lamps,

that the 5 and 6, this instrument is4 desi ned to carry centrally 1n the frame a third amp, 12, and

particularly when the instrument is mount-v 'ed as indicated in Figure 1 on the7 fender,

13 of the automobile, thelamp, 12, showing a white light throu h the cover glass, 10 will serve as a mar er or parking lightg for the carv when it is left standing at the curb or elsewhere adjacent. a roadway. Behind the lamp bulbs the casin is fitted with an opaque disk, 14, pre erably of metal, having a central section, 14, which obscures the middle lamp, 12, fromthe view of the driver. Window portions, 14", register with the other two lamps; the window opposite the lamp, 5, is tted with a green color screen, 14, and the window behind the lamp, `6, `is provided with a red color screen, 14d. Preferably for somewhat dit fusing the color e'ect, the rear surface ot' the cover glass, 11, may be etched or frosted and it is also spaced away from the color screens by a gasket, 15, as shown inFigure 2.

The intention is that with `the wiring as shown in xFigure 4, the middle lamp, 12, shall burn continuously and that one or the other' of the lamps, 5 and 6, shall be lighted practically all theJ time to assure the driver device is in service and also to advise him of the condition of the engine. As shown in the wiring diagram the lamp,

12, is therefore connected in series with the lamp, 5, and provided with a grounded return connection, 16. So long as the engine temperature doesI not exceed the limit of safety the thermostat, 1, will maintain the contact at 3, and keep the circuit closed through the lamps, 5 and 12. If the safe temperature is exceeded the thermostatic bar, 1, will open this circuit and move into contact with the point, 4, thus lighting the lamp, 6, and extinguishing the lamp, 5giving the operator ared signal instead of a green one to advise him of the dangerous condition.

The drawings show a convenient construcf' tio'n for supporting the lamps in the casing and securing the desired electrical connections in a relativel simple manner. A shield member, 17, o sheet metal is secured by screws, 18, to the central opaque portion, 14, of the disk, 14, being insulated therefrom by a spacer, 19 of paper or liber. Said shield, 17, extends forwardly at both sides of the middle lamp, 12, sewparating it from the lamps, and 6, and curving around the latter to extend in front of them at 17a.

A socket or holder is provided for each of.

the lamps by riveting to the shield, 17, a `curved strip, 20, circularly shaped to encompass the base, 21, of the lamp; the curved end, 22, of the strip, 20, stops short of forming a complete circle, leaving a gap or slot, 23, to accommodate one of the usual locking pins, 24, which project from the base, 2l, of the lamp. An offset portion, 25,

in the strip, 20, at the opposite side of the circle admits the opposite pin, not shownln the drawings, and as the lamp baseis indirectly on the frame supplies the ground connection for this lamp. All three of the sockets or holders, 20, being attached to the metallic shield, 17, it is evident that they are electrically connected in accordance with the diagram of Figure 4, Lead wires from contacts, 3 and 4, are shown in Figure 1 at 29 and 30, respectively, connected to terminal posts, 3l and 32, in the stem, 33, of the frame, 7, and insulated from said frame. At their upper ends said posts carry spring contact arms, 34 and 35 for engaging the central contacts, 27 of the signal "lamps, 5

'and 6, respectively.

Ordinarily the engine temperature will become excessive only while the engine is running and in care of an operator.` It may, therefore, be preferable to co'nnect the lamps asshown in Figure 5 so that the central parking light, 12, is in series only with the green or safety lamp, 5. Then when the red light is switched on by excessivetemperature affecting the thermostat, 1, the lamp, 12, will be extinguished and this fact will serve as an incentive to the driver to make sure that his engine is cooled down to a safe temperature before he leaves the car standing alone.` It is obvious that to modify the lconstruction in accordance with the diagram of Figure 5, it will onl be necessary to ground the socket or lio-lder, 20, for the lamp, 6, on the frame, 7, of the instrument, instead ofconnecting it with the lamp, V12, as for example, by letting the attaching arm by which it is supported extendaround Vall under the insulation, 19, without touching the shield, 17, but into contact with the disk, 14'.

I claim 1. A combined parking light and engine temperature signal for motor vehicles consisting of a casing adapted to be suitably mounted on the vehicle'for casting illuminai tion both forwardly in the direction of travel and rearwardly for observation by the driver; front and rear cover glasses for the casing; three signal lamps 1n the casing; me'ans obscuring one of them rearwardly and permitting it to cast illumination forwardly:r means obscuring the other two forwardly and permitting them. to4 cast illumination rearwardly; means forl distinguishing the rearwardly illuminating lamps from each other by color; two circuits in which said lamps are energized, the forwardly illuminating lamp and one of the rearwardly illuminating lamps being in series in one circuit, and the other rearwardly illuminating lamp bein in thel other circuit, and a thermostatical y opera-ted switch influenced by` engine temperature for closing said circuits alternatively according to engine temperature.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, the forwardly illuminating lamp being in both circuits; whereby theforward illumination accompanies both rearward illuminations. f

3. The construction 'defined in claim 1,

lthe rearwardl obscuring means for the forforwardly obscuring means for the lamps respectively being mounted one upon the other with interposed insulation, the sockets or holders for the lamps being mounted on the forwardly obscuring means, the rearwardly obscuring means being mounted on the frame structure and the circuits being grounded en said frame structure.

5. The construction dened in claim 1 having the rearwardly obscuring means electrically conductive and mounted on the frame structure, the circuits being grounded on the frame structure, the forward obscuring means beinginsulatingly mounted on the rearwardly obscuring means, the sockets or holders for the lamps being mounted on said forwardly obscuring means.

6. In the construction defined in claim 1 foregoing, the forwardly obscuring means being extended between the lamps for cutting o diffusion of light from thelamps respectively into their respective paths of illumination and being curved convexly forward and rendered reflective for `equalizing the Vbeam ofthe forwardly illuminating lamp over the area of the cover glass.

Levaoeo 7. In the construction defined 'in claim 1 foregoing, therearwardl obscuring means being an opaque plate aving a window opening for the beams of the rearwardlyV il-` 5 lumin'ating lamps, and color screens in the window openings for distinguishingthe rearward illuminations from each-other.

8. In ythe construction defined in claim 1 foregoing, the rearwardly obscuring means MD being an opaque plate having a window opening for the beams of the rearwardly illuminating lamps, land colon screens in the window openings for distinguishing the rearward illuminations from each other, said color screens being yspaced forwardly from' lo the reall1 cover glass and said glass being 'frosted for diffusing the color illuminations.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of September, 1922.

ANDREW C. WOOD. 

